Electrically-driven spindle.



No. 630,567 Patented Aug. 8, I899. H. B. SAWYER & R. ROBE.

ELECTRICALLY DRIVEN SPINDLE.

(Ap flication filed Apt. 14, 189B.)

2 Sh.aats- Shaet I.

a [nae/ Z02 .2 mfi Xx) T m v PLUM V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY l3. SAlVYER, OB NEWTON, AND RUSSELL R013 3, OF CONCORD,MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRICALLY -DRIVEN SPINDLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 630,567, dated August8, 1899.

Application filed April 14, 1898.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, HENRY B. SAWYER, residing at Newton, and RUSSELLROBE, residing at Concord, in the county of Middlesex, State ofMassachusetts, citizens of the United States, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Electrically-Driven Spindles, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being made to the acconr panyingdrawings.

Our invention relates to electrically-driven spindles; and it consistsin the production of a form of alternating-current motor of theinduction type so constructed as to have the necessary strength andcapacity for driving an individual spindle and the efiiciency necessaryto insure its economical operation, while, furthermore, the inventionalso comprises certain arrangements in the application of the motor tothe spindle whereby the spindle when relieved from the band-pullheretofore present in the usual method of operation will remain properlybalanced, so as to operate at the desired high speed, and will also haveits speed automatically adjusted, according to the diameter of thebobbin and the strength of the thread with relation to the strain uponit.

Finally, the invention comprises certain details of construction bywhich the motor is suitably protected and guarded.

I11 the operation of spindles it is necessary that all those upon oneframe shall operate at substantially a uniform speed with respect toeach other, and while such speed has heretofore been practicallyconstant our invention provides, as will be hereinafter explained, for aslight automatic change in the speed as the diameter of the wound bobbinincreases. For securing this uniformity of speed we apply to each of theseparate spindles a small alternating-current motor of the inductiontype whose speed is determined principally by the rate of alternation inthe delivery of current, but which in our construction is also affectedby the character that we give to the motor itself. A motor suitable fordriving a spindle is necessarily a very small one, its full size beingshown in the accompanying drawings, and heretofore no motor has beenconstructed which within the permissible dimensions Serial No. 677,546.(No model.)

has either the capacity or the efficiency to render its use with aspindle possible. To overcome this difficulty, we have constructed amotor of the described type havinga cylindrical armature or rotatingelement surrounding the base of the spindle just above thesupporting-rail and adjacent to the spindlebearings. This element iscomposed of thin plates or laminations, and preferably has a series ofconducting-rods embedded in its surface and forming a closed circuit, inwhich, in the usual way, there is induced by the field-magnet amagnetizing-current. This part of the motor, whether it be regarded asan armature or as a field-magnet, will be designated as the rotor todistinguish it from the stationary element, which will be designated asthe stator. The latter element consists of a laminated ring surroundingthe rotor and presenting a series of inwardly-projecting pole-pieces,between which are wound the energizing-coils in planes radial to thecenter of rotation. The rotor will be separated from the stator by aspace greater than would ordinarily be provided in a motor of this sizeanddescription in order to permit of the gyratorymovement of the spindleand its attached rotor in the bearings provided therefor. This space,moreover, between rotor and stator is preferably greater at the upperside than the lower side, one of the ele- -1nents havingaconically-formed surface with the greater diameter uppermost toaccommodate the greater range of gyratory movement of those portionsmore distant from the stepbearing, which is the center of gyration. Thisconstruction permits the spindle and the rotor to run free at thehighestspeed,while the location of the comparatively heavy cylindrical rotorata point adjacent to the step-bearin g, which upholds the spindle androtor from below, affords a perfect balance for the spindle whenrelieved from the band-pull present in the present method ofspindle-driving and reduces the side friction on thebolster-bearing to aminimum. A further advantage of this arrangement is that while acomplete electric motor, including both a stationary and a rotatingmember, has been added to the spindle it is the rotating member onlythat partakes of the gyratory movement. Thus the minimum weight ofmaterial is gyrated with the minimum gyratory inertia,an d,moreover,such movement is not transmitted through running bearings, as would bethe case if the stator and rotor were both flexibly mounted so as togyrate together, an arrangement which would be required if the ordinaryfixed alinement of rotor and stator and the restricted air-gap betweenthem were preserved. Moreover, in a ring-spinning frame the amount oftwist in the yarn, and consequently to a certain extent the strength ofthe yarn,is less when the diameter of the bobbin is small, while at thesame time the tension imposed by the traveler is greater because thepull of the yarn on the traveler when the bobbin is small is more nearlyin a radial and less in a tangential direction than when the diameter ofthe bobbin is larger. Consequently it is desirable that the speed of thespindle with relation to the speed of the feed-rolls should be greaterwhen the diameter of the bobbin is small than when it is large.lleretofore it has been customary to provide for this by increasing thespeed of the feed-roll as the diameter of the bobbin increases,whileleaving the spindle speed unchanged. This has reduced to someextent the possible speed of operation and output of the frame, sincethe speed of the front roll, which delivers the yarn, must be less atfirst than the normal and only attains its maximum when the bobbin isfull. \Ve, on the contrary, providea constant maximum speed for thedelivery-rolls and so construct our operating-motors that the slip ofthe rotor or its variation from the normal speed of polar rotation inthe stator shall increase with the increase in the diameter of the woundbobbin. In this way the spindle speed will decrease slightly as thebobbin fills up, and the twist of the yarn and its strength can bealways nearly proportional to the tension of the traveler thereon. Thisadjustment will not only be automatic, but will be always adapted to therequirements of each spindle,

whereas in prior methods it has only been possible to effect anadjustment for all the spindles of any one frame as a whole withoutregard to the condition of individual spindles. lVe also provide for aseries of spindles two guard-plates upon the opposite sides thereof,respectively, which completely cover over and inclose the motors,leaving only a series of small openings through which the spindles canpass. This fully protects the motors from lint, dirt, and oil and at thesame time acts as a dofting-gnard to prevent the lifting of the spindleand rotor as the bobbins are removed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is averticaldiametrical section ofa spindle with its operating-motor and bearings.Fig. 2 is a plan of the motor, partly in section. Fig. 3 shows apossible modification of the stator. Fig. l shows the connections fortwo or more motors on a single frame.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate the arrangement of the guard-plates.

In the drawings, A represents a spindle, which carries a bobbin B.

R is a supporting-rail of a spinning-frame, upon which is seated astandard S, in which are contained the bearings for the spindles. Thesespindles and bearings may be con structed on any of the presentwell-known methods. Those shown herein consist, first, of a step-bearingL, which receives on its upper surface the lower extremity of thespindle A, and, second, of a tubular bolster-bearing M within thestandard and surrounding the lower part of the spindle, preferablyseparated from the standard by a surrounding layer of felt N or otheryielding material which will permit of a slight movement of the bearingwith relation to the standard. The step-bearing L is adjustablevertically with relation to the bolster-bearing, and the degree ofpressure of the spindle on the bolster-l; earing may be adjusted byraising or lowering the step-bearing by screwing it into or out of theopening in the lower end of the tubular bolster, the screw connectionbeing somewhat loose, so as not to interfere with the oscillation of thespindle and bolster. This adjustment may be automatically determined ina well-known manner, not requiring detailed explanation, by means of aspring T, adjusted to yield at a given degree of friction, and thus varythe relation of the step-bearing to the bolster. \Vith this arrangementit will be obvious that the spindle when rotating at high speed willhave a slight gyratory movement centered on the lower extremity of thespindle resting on the stepbearing. The standard aforesaid extendsthrough the rail R and is seated thereon, being held in position by anut on the under side, while an oilduct X is extended through thestandard from an outside point and delivers oil to the interior of thebolster-bearing by suit-able openings therein, whence it works down tothe step-bearing. Above the upper edge of the tubular standard there isattached to the spindle a conical sleeve 0, extending downward aroundthe standard, but free therefrom, and carrying a cup F, if desired, forreceiving the lower end of bobbin 1 To this sleeve, at a point above therail R and yet as close as feasible to the step-bearing L, which is thegyratory center of the spindle, we attach the rotor K of an electricmotor, consisting of a series of plates or laminations, making up acylindrical body of soft iron having considerable weight with relationto the weight of the spindle itself and the bobbin carried thereby. Thiswill bring the center of gravity of the rotating parts as close aspossible to the step-bearing, although still being above that bearing,and in consequence the balance of the rotating parts will be maintainedand the friction between the bolster-bearing and the spindle will be re-Around the pee duced to the minimum.

IIS

ripliery of the motor and parallel with the axis thereof are arranged aseries of conducting-rods K, embedded in the laminations and connectedat top and bottom by disks concentric with and of the same diameter asthe rotor itself. These conductors form a closed circuit, in which anenergizingcurrent will be induced by the action of the stator. Thelatter, G, is made in the form of a ring completely surrounding therotor, but separated therefrom by a space somewhat greater than would beordinarily provided for a motor of this size in order to permit of theg'yrat-ory movement of the spindle and rotor. The stator is preferablysupported on the standard S, which carries the spindlebearings, byintervening blocks G of nonmagnetic material, which preventshort-circuiting of the magnetism. The attachment of: the stator to thespindle-base instead of the rail or other part of the frame allows of amore accurate adjustment of the parts and permits of the attachment of acompleted and properly-adjusted spindle combined with its motor to anyexisting form of frame without special adaptation. The stator isprovided with a series of inwardly-projecting polepieces, and betweenthese pole-pieces the coils are wound in planes radial to the center ofthe spindle. This arrangement permits of utilization of the availablespace for iron and wire, except such as is necessarily utilized for thegyratory movement, and such complete utilization is necessaryin order toovercome the disadvantage presented by the unusual air-gap betweenstator and rotor it the motor is to have a capacity and e'lliciency suchas is necessary for practical economical operation. As appears in Fig.1, this airgap is greater at the upper side of the armature than at thelower side, the dillerence being exaggerated somewhat in the figure.This is due to the fact that the center of gyration being the lowerextremity of the spindle the extent to which the spindle and rotor willdeviate from the normal central position is greater as the radialdistance from such center increases. Therefore in order to accuratelyaccommodate the gyratory movement the air-gap must be greater inproportion to the radial distance from the lower extremity of thespindle.

The arrangement of the coils and polepieces in the stator is illustratedin detail in Fig. 2, which will be understood from the explanationalready given. In this figure the connection of the stator'coils is alsoillustrated, the motor being shown as provided with four sets of coils,each set containing three individual coils and being connected .in pairsin the usual manner to the two respective branches of a two-phasealternatingcurrent circuit. Thus coils l, 2, and 3 make and 6 isconnected in series with the set composed of the coils 10, 11, and 12between the wires 0 cl of the other side of the circuit. It is alsopossible to employ four pole-pieces instead of twelve by arranging thecoils as shown in Fig. 3. In this figure the opposite coils do notconsist of sets comprising a number of individual sections, but arecomplete in themselves, there being four coils 0, C C and 0. Two ofthese coils, C and O, are connected between lines Ct 11, and the othertwo, 0 and C are connected between the lines o and (Z.

In Fig. 4 a diagram of the circuits is shown. It appears in this figurethat for each frame there will be provided a common set of condnctors aZ) and e (1, whose connection with the main line is controlled by aswitch Z, and the individual motors for the respective spindles will beall connected in parallel to the conductors pertaining to the frames onwhich the spindles are located. The coils of two such motors areindicated in Fi tas conneeted between the conductors a l) and 0 (Z inthe manner already described.

Turning next to Fig. 5, E represents the delivery-rolls, from which theyarn 0 passes first to the traveler D on a ring D, carried by thering-rail T, (shown in the figure as in its lowest position,) and thenceto the bobbin l3, whereon it is wound and also twisted by the rotationof the spindle. cut that when the bobbin is empty, as shown, or nearlyso, the tension imposed by the traveler is greater than it is when thebobbin is fully wound, or nearly so, since the thread draws the traveleraround the ring by pulling thereon in a direction which is more nearly aradial direction when the bobbin is small and becomes more nearly atangential direction when the bobbin is large' The greater tension thusimposed by the traveler requires a somewhat stronger thread, which maybe had by giving it a greater number of twists per inch. Heretofore thefeed-rolls E have sometimes been arranged to deliver yarn at a somewhatgreater speed as the diameter of the bobbin is increased, leaving thespindle speed constant, and thereby giving to the It will be apparthreada less number of twists per inch delivered, or, to state it reversely,delivering more inches of yarn for a given number of twists. This hasreduced somewhat the output of a spinning-frame, as the rolls deliver atthe maximum rate only when the bobbins are full.

By our invention we provide a constant maximum speed of thedeliveryrolls E and provide for a somewhat greater spindle speed whenthe bobbin is small, so as to give at that time the additional number oftwists per inch of the thread, and, moreover, we provide that this speedshall be automatically adjusted, not only for the spindles of any oneframe as a whole, but also for the individual spindles themselves. Thisis accomplished by constructing the motor so that the slip between rotorand stator shall give a definite decrease in speed as the spindlebecomes loaded, this decrease being in the ratio of the desired decreasein the number of twists per inch of thread which it is desired tosecure, or, to state it conversely, the greater speed when the bobbin issmall is in the ratio of the de sired greater number of twists which itis desired to give to the thread at that time.

It is to be understood that we do not limitourselvcs to any particularform of ind uctionmotor or to any particular form and arrange ment ofthe spindle and its bearings, since we believe ourselves to be the firstones to combine a front roll of a spinning-frame and a spindle receivingthread therefrom with an electric motor for driving the spindle, whichis of the induction type, wherein the speed is not dependent entirelyupon the rate of alternations in the supply-circuit.

The remaining feature of our invention is particularly illustrated inFigs. 1, 5, and 6. Underneath the ring-rail and above the motor areplaced the guard-plates V and \V, the former being U-shaped incross-section and hinged to the frame of the machine at a and the latterbeing an angle-strip hinged to the frame at I). These guard-plates, asshown in Fig. 6, are of a length sufficient to cover two or morespindles, and when turned back on their hinges a and Z) they take theposition shown in the dotted lines of Fig. 5. The adjacent edges ofthese plates are provided with semicircular notches at intervals, asshown in Fig. 6, which register and form circnlar openings, throughwhich the spindles pass, and with catches B for holding them in place.It is convenient to have a single pair of guide plates include seven oreight spindles, but this number may be increased or diminished withoutdeparting from the principle of a common guard for a plurality ofspindles. The guard-plate V is enlarged and differently shaped, ascompared with the guard XV, for the purpose of inclosin g therein theoil tube X, through which the motor and spindle-bearings are lubricated.These guards serve to entirely close in the motor with its bearings andlubricating devices, so as to protect them against lint, dust, andanyexternal interference, while it serves particularly as a step forholding the spindle and rotor in place when the bobbin is doifet Itshould be added that the above-described arrangement for the graduationautomatically of the motor and spindle speed to a degree commensuratewith the decrease of twist necessary is of particular advantage inconnection with the provision of individual driving mechanism for therespective spindles. Since the winding of all the bobbins may not beginat the same instant and may not be carried on at exactly the same ratein each case, by reason of stoppages or other incidents at particularspindles, it becomes important, in connection with the constant speedprovided by the front roll of all the spindles, to have the adjustmentor graduation above referred to take place at each spindle independentlyof the others. Hence the individual capacity of the respective spindlefor adjustment in speed is an advantage additional to the generaladvantage residing in the adjustment itself.

In the practical use of our invention we have found that theintroduction of the described electric motor involves an adjustment ofthe spindle and its attached rotor with relation to the statoradditional to the adjustment heretofore required of the spindle withrelation to the feed-roll and other parts of the machine. \Ve have alsofound it desirable to have these two adjustments independent of eachother, so that the former can be made permanent and be undisturbed byany changes made in the latter. Therefore we have provided a rigidstandard,which on the one hand, is provided with means for attaching itto the frame of the machine and, on the other hand, is firmly connectedto the stator, and is also made to support the bearings for the spindleand its attached rotor, so that it may serve to maintain permanentlysuch adjustment as may be made of the spindle and rotor with relation tothe stator. We thus provide as a completed article of manufacture acombined motorand spindle whose parts may be put into the necessarycondition of adjustment with relation to one another and so maintained,while the device as a whole can be applied to the frame of thespinning-machine without any disturbance of the prearranged adjustment.

hat we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a spindle having a flexible bearing, giving it acapacity for gyratory movement, of an induction-motor rotor attachedthereto and a stator attached to a stationary part of the machine, butseparated from the rotor by an air-gap sufficient to permit the gyratorymovement of the spindle and attached rotor without contact betweenstator and rotor.

2. The combination with a spindle, of an induction -motor rotor attachedthereto, a yielding bearing adjusted to support both spindle and rotorso as to permit of their joint gyration, and a stator attached to astationary part of the machine and separated from the rotor by anair-gap that permits the aforesaid gyration of spindle and rotor.

3. The combination with a spindle, of a depending sleeve outside of thebearing-tube and separated therefrom, a rotor-core surrounding andattached to said sleeve, conductors 011 said core forming a closedcircuit, an annular stator surrounding said rotor, but separatedtherefrom by an air-gap that permits its gyration, and distinct windingson said stator for receiving alternating currents of differing phase.

4. The combination with a spindle of flexible bearings therefor, aninduction motor rotor attached thereto, and an annular statorsurrounding and presenting a series of polar projections to the saidrotor which are separated from the rotor sufficiently to permit theretoa gyratory motion, the said stator be ing wound at the spaces betweensucceeding polar projections with wire lying in radial planes.

5. The combination with a spindle of flexible bearings therefor, aninduction-motorrotor attached thereto, an annular stator wound with wirelying in radial planes and surrounding the rotor, to which it presents aseries of pole-pieces separated therefrom by a space permitting agyratory motion thereto, and non-magnetic material intervening betweenthe core of said stator and the magnetic frame of the machine.

(3. The combination with a spindle having a supporting-bearing at itslower end, of an electric motor surrounding the said spindle andconcentric therewith at a point above and adjacent to the said bearing,and a side bearing for the said spindle permitting a gymtory movementthereof, said motor being provided with a cylindrical balanced rotor andwith a stator surrounding the rotor but separated therefrom by a spacegreater than the gyratory deviation of the rotor from its normal centralposition.

'7. The combination with a spindle having bearings permitting a gyratorymovement of the spindle, of an electromagnetic rotor attached to thespindle and capable of gyrating therewith, and a stator surrounding therotor, but separated therefrom by an airgap in creasing in extent withthe increase of the radial distance from the center of gyration.

S. In a spinning-machine, the combination with a feed-roll, of a spindlereceiving thread therefrom and a driving-motor for the spin dle of thealternating-current type, wherein the motor speed difiers from the speedof polar rotation in the inducing member which corresponds to thefrequency of the alternations in the supply-circuit.

9. In a spinning-machine, the combination with a front roll of a spindleand an alternating-current electric motor of the induction typeconnected to the spindle for driving the same and constructed to have,as it becomes loaded, a slip substantially commensurate with thedecrease of twist necessary to the yarn.

10. In a spinning-frame, the combination with a front roll of a seriesof spindles and a corresponding series of alternating-current electricmotors of the induction type connected respectively to the said spindlesfor operating the same and constructed each so as to have, as it becomesloaded, a slip substantially commensurate with the decrease of twistnecessary to the yarn running to the bobbin on its individual spindle.

11. In a spinning-machine the combination with a spindle, of anelectric-motor rotor attached thereto, a removable guard extending oversaid rotor but out of contact therewith, a stator surrounding said rotorbut attached to the frame of the machine, and bearings supporting saidrotor and spindle from below and from which the rotor is verticallyremovable independently of the stator.

12. In a spinning-machine, the combination with a spindle, of anoperating electric motor therefor consisting of a rotor and stator, thelatter being attached to the frame of the machine,and two angularguard-plates hinged to the frame of the machine on opposite sides of themotor with their meeting edges notched to receive the spindle andforming a complete inclosure for the motor, and serving also as a guardto prevent the removal of the rotor from its bearing.

13. In a spinning-machine, the combination with a spindle, of anoperating-motor therefor, consisting of a rotor and stator, the latterbeing attached to the frame of the machine, an adjacent oil-tube forlubricating the spindle-bearings and a hinged guard-plate inclosing boththe motor and the oil-tube, and formed with a projection above the rotorto serve as a guard against the removal of the same from its bearings.

14. In a spinning-machine the combination with a series of spindles, ofindividual electric motors for operating the same, each consisting of arotor and stator, the stators bein g attached to the frame of themachine, and the rotors being provided with bearings supporting themfrom below and from which the rotors are removable, and a guardextending along two or more spindles and projecting over themotor-rotors of the said spindles to prevent the removal of the saidrotors from their bearings.

15. As a new article of manufacture, a combined spindle and motorcomprising a rigid standard, attachments for connecting it to the frameof the spinning-machine, a spindle flexibly mounted on said standard, astator also mounted on said standard and a rotor within the statorattached to the spindle, the parts being permanently adjusted withrelation to one another and the device as a whole being adapted forapplication to a spinningmachine without disturbance of the saidadjustments.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands, before twosubscribing witnesses, this 11th day of April, 1898.

HENRY B. SAIVYE R. RUSSELL ROBE. WVitnesses:

CHAS. F. WALLACE, HOWARD L. Boone.

